Source: Team_Talk
Brown hails Steelmen's patience
Well dominated before and after Liam Miller's controversial 32nd-minute red card but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resolute Hibs defence.[LNB]However, Murphy cushioned a volley just inside the post after John Sutton had held up Jim O'Brien's 82nd-minute cross and laid the ball into his path.[LNB]The victory took Motherwell to within five points of third-placed Hibs and further boosted their European hopes after a run of eight SPL games unbeaten under Brown, with the loss of just one goal.[LNB]And Brown was not underestimating the achievement of taking three points against 10 men after Jim Gannon's Motherwell drew with Hamilton, Dundee United and Aberdeen earlier in the season under similar circumstances.[LNB]"It's difficult to play against 10 as we've found in the past," the former Scotland manager said.[LNB]"So that was worrying me, the 10 always put more effort in, each man gives another 10 or 15 per cent.[LNB]"Also, they play with a persecution complex. So it was a good result against 10 men.[LNB]"Anyone who tells me it's easier to play against a weakened team, that's nonsense, because they are more determined not to lose a goal.[LNB]"Hibs, after they went to 10, were determined to get a draw so there was only one team trying to win the game at that point and it's harder when they are all back.[LNB]"So I give the boys credit, they keep going and getting results. You need patience and you've got to keep playing."[LNB]Brown agreed with referee Euan Norris' decision to show Miller a straight red card for a foul on O'Brien, claiming the midfielder "could have broken his ankle".[LNB]But Hibs manager John Hughes, whose team suffered their third consecutive defeat, felt it was a very harsh decision.[LNB]"If that was a red card, Scottish football is in a sorry state," he said.[LNB]"It made it a real uphill battle on a very heavy pitch and I'm disappointed the boys lost a late goal when we were hanging in there, because I thought we could have defended that better."[LNB]Hughes made five changes following the 5-1 defeat by St Johnstone three days earlier with the likes of Graeme Smith and Derek Riordan dropped.[LNB]And he is looking for his squad to give him everything to ensure they end their losing streak.[LNB]"We're asking boys to show plenty of character to make sure we are sitting third and digging in there," he said.[LNB]"It's up to these boys, even the boys that have been sitting on the bench are good enough to go and play.[LNB]"I felt Lewis Stevenson was possibly the pick of the bunch and they just need to keep digging in."[LNB][LNB]
